U.S. patent number 9,431,182 [Application Number 14/606,264] was granted by the patent office on 2016-08-30 for double contact point switch and a magnetic connector having the double contact point switch.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SPS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is SPS Inc.. Invention is credited to Eun-Min Jeon, Hyun-Jun Kim, Jung Gyo Kim, Dae-Young Youn.
United States Patent |
9,431,182 |
Kim , et al. |
August 30, 2016 |
Double contact point switch and a magnetic connector having the
double contact point switch
Abstract
Provided are a double contact point switch and a magnetic
connector having the same. The double contact point switch
includes: a pin part; an additional terminal part; and an elastic
part applying elastic force to the pin part, wherein the pin part
includes a front contact point and a rear contact point, the pin
part moves rearward when external force is applied to the front
contact point of the pin part and again moves forward when the
external force of the front contact point disappears, by the
elastic part, and the rear contact point contacts the additional
terminal part when the pin part moves rearward. As a result of this
configuration, it is possible to confirm whether or not a contact
of a magnetic connector was made without installing a separate
signal terminal in the magnetic connector.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jung Gyo (Daejeon,
KR), Jeon; Eun-Min (Daejeon, KR), Youn;
Dae-Young (Seoul, KR), Kim; Hyun-Jun (Daejeon,
KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SPS Inc. |
Daejeon |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SPS INC. (KR)
|
Family
ID: |
51490430 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/606,264 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160006187 A1 |
Jan 7, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Jan 17, 2014 [KR] |
|
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20-2014-0000383 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/7038 (20130101); H01H 1/58 (20130101); H01R
2103/00 (20130101); H01R 13/2421 (20130101); H01R
13/6205 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/70 (20060101); H01R 13/703 (20060101); H01H
1/58 (20060101); H01R 33/96 (20060101); H01R
13/24 (20060101); H01R 13/62 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Paumen; Gary
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor Colburn LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A magnetic connector having a double contact point switch,
comprising: a magnet configured to magnetically attract a counter
contact terminal; and a double contact point switch, wherein the
double contact point switch includes: a pin part having a front
contact point and a rear contact point, wherein the pin part is
configured to move rearwards with the front contact point contacted
with the counter contact terminal when the counter contact terminal
is magnetically attracted by the magnet, an additional terminal
part configured to electrically contact the rear contact point of
the pin part when the pin part moves rearwards, a body part
surrounding and supporting the pin part, and an elastic part
disposed inside the body part and surrounding the pin part, the
elastic part configured to elastically bias the pin part
frontwards, wherein the body part and the pin part electrically
contact with each other, and the body part is electrically
connected to a circuit allowing supply of power to the pin part so
that, when the pin part moves rearwards and the rear contact point
electrically contacts the additional terminal part, the circuit
allows a power supply to the pin part through the body part.
2. The magnetic connector having a double contact point switch of
claim 1, wherein the additional terminal part has an elastic means
allowing the additional terminal part to move rearward when the
rear contact point of the pin part contacts and an external force
is applied thereto.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present device relates to a double contact point switch and a
magnetic connector having the same, and more particularly, to a
double contact point switch of which a pin part has two contact
points, and a magnetic connector having the same.
BACKGROUND
When a power supplying apparatus (an apparatus supplying power to
an electronic apparatus, such as an adaptor) is connected to an
electronic apparatus, it may be connected to the electronic
apparatus by a magnetic connector.
As an example of the magnetic connector for supplying power, there
is a magnetic connector (hereinafter, referred to as a `magnetic
connector according to the related art`) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
7,311,526 B2 (registered on Dec. 25, 2007).
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic connector according
to the related art.
The magnetic connector is coupled by magnetic attractive force
between magnets 130 and 170 mounted therein. Here, contact pins 120
of the magnetic connector may contact contact terminals 160 of an
opposite side to transfer power or a signal. In addition, elastic
parts such as springs 122 are installed below the contact pins 120
in order to allow the contact pins 120 to certainly contact the
contact terminals at the time of coupling the magnetic
connector.
When the power is supplied through the magnetic connector, a spark
is generated at the moment at which a power terminal (a contact
terminal supplying the power) of the power supplying apparatus
contacts a power terminal of the electronic apparatus, thereby
making it possible to damage the apparatus. Therefore, it is
preferable that the power supplying apparatus starts to supply the
power after a contact between the power supplying apparatus and the
electronic apparatus is made. To this end, a means capable of
confirming the contact with the electronic apparatus is required in
the power supplying apparatus. In the power supplying apparatus
according to the related art, a separate signal terminal S is
installed in addition to two power supplying terminals V+ and V-,
and it is confirmed through the signal terminal whether or not the
contact with the electronic apparatus was made. Here, as a method
of conforming whether or not the contact with the electronic
apparatus was made, a method of confirming whether or not the
contact with the electronic apparatus was made by performing data
communication through the signal terminal S, a method of deciding
that the contact with the electronic apparatus was made when a
current or a voltage is measured through the signal terminal S, or
the like, has been used.
However, when the separate signal terminal S is installed in
addition to the power supplying terminals V+ and V-, a structure of
the magnetic connector becomes complicated, and the magnetic
connector may not be easily miniaturized.
SUMMARY
An object of the present device is to confirm whether or not a
contact of a magnetic connector was made without installing a
separate signal terminal in the magnetic connector.
In one general aspect, a double contact point switch includes: a
pin part; an additional terminal part; and an elastic part applying
elastic force to the pin part, wherein the pin part includes a
front contact point and a rear contact point, the pin part moves
rearward when external force is applied to the front contact point
of the pin part and again moves forward when the external force of
the front contact point disappears, by the elastic part, and the
rear contact point contacts the additional terminal part when the
pin part moves rearward.
The additional terminal part may have an elastic means allowing the
additional terminal part to move rearward when external force is
applied thereto.
The double contact point switch may further include a body part
enclosing the pin part.
The body part and the pin part may be electrically connected to
each other.
In another general aspect, a magnetic connector having a double
contact point switch includes: a magnet; and the double contact
point switch, wherein the double contact point switch includes a
pin part, an additional terminal part, and an elastic part applying
elastic force to the pin part, the pin part including a front
contact point and a rear contact point, the pin part moving
rearward when external force is applied to the front contact point
of the pin part and again moving forward when the external force of
the front contact point disappears, by the elastic part, and the
rear contact point contacting the additional terminal part when the
pin part moves rearward.
The additional terminal part may have an elastic means allowing the
additional terminal part to move rearward when external force is
applied thereto.
The double contact point switch may further include a body part
enclosing the pin part.
The body part and the pin part may be electrically connected to
each other.
The magnetic connector having a double contact point switch may
further include a circuit allowing the supply of power to the pin
part when the rear contact point and the additional terminal part
contact each other to thereby be electrically connected to each
other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic connector according
to the related art.
FIG. 2 is cross-sectional views of a double contact point switch
according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present
device.
FIG. 3 is cross-sectional views of a double contact point switch
according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present
device.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a magnetic connector having a
double contact point switch according to the present device.
FIG. 5 is illustrative views of contact terminals of the magnetic
connector.
FIG. 6 is perspective views of the magnetic connector and a counter
magnetic connector.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS
10: pin part 11: front contact point 12: rear contact point 13:
catching jaw 14: spring 16: wing part 20: body part 21: body
protrusion part 25: fixing part 30: additional terminal part 31:
connecting part of additional terminal part 40: counter contact
terminal 50: magnetic connector 51, 52: contact terminal 53: magnet
70: counter magnetic connector
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a double contact point switch and a magnetic connector
having the same according to the present device will be described
in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Although a double contact point switch according to the present
device may be implemented in several schemes, it may be implemented
as in the following two exemplary embodiments.
First Exemplary Embodiment
FIG. 2 is cross-sectional views of a double contact point switch
according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present
device.
FIG. 2 shows (a) a form before a counter contact terminal presses
the double contact point switch; and (b) a form after the counter
contact terminal presses the double contact point switch.
A pin part 10 is provided with a front contact point 11 and a rear
contact point 12. The pin part 10 is formed in a body part 20, and
is provided with a catching jaw 13 that prevents the pin part 10
from being separated from the body part 20. The pin part 10 has a
spring 14 formed at a rear thereof, and elastic force of the spring
14 serves to push the pin part 10 forward.
The pin part 10 has an additional terminal part formed at the rear
thereof, wherein the additional terminal part 30 is coupled to a
connecting part 31 thereof.
The counter contact terminal 40 is a contact terminal formed in a
magnetic connector of an opposite side.
When the magnetic connector is coupled, the counter contact
terminal 40 applies pressing force to the front contact point 11 of
the pin part 10 while contacting the front contact point 11. In
this case, the pin part 10 moves rearward, and the rear contact
point 12 contacts the additional terminal part 30. Since the
connecting part 31 of the additional terminal part 30 has elastic
force, when external force is applied to the additional terminal
part 30, the additional terminal part 30 moves rearward, and when
the external force disappears, the additional terminal part 30
again moves forward.
Since the pin part 10 is made of a material having conductivity,
when the pin part 10 contacts the additional terminal part 30 and
the counter contact terminal 40 as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, the pin
part 10 is electrically connected to the additional terminal part
30 and the counter contact terminal 40.
Here, an electric wire may be soldered directly to the pin part 10
in order to electrically connect the pin part 10 and the electric
wire to each other. Alternatively, the spring 14 and the body part
20 are made of materials having conductivity, a body protrusion
part 21 is formed on the body part 20, and the electric wire is
connected to the body protrusion part 21, thereby making it
possible to electrically connect the pin part 10 and the electric
wire to each other. That is, the pin part 10 and the body part 20
are electrically connected to each other, thereby making it
possible to easily electrically connect the electric wire and the
pin part 10 to each other.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
FIG. 3 is cross-sectional views of a double contact point switch
according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present
device.
FIG. 3 shows (a) a form before a counter contact terminal presses
the double contact point switch; and (b) a form after the counter
contact terminal presses the double contact point switch.
A pin part 10 is provided with a front contact point 11 and a rear
contact point 12. The pin part 10 has two wing parts 16 lengthily
formed at sides thereof, wherein the two wing parts 16 are inserted
into and fixed to fixing parts 25. Since the wing part 16 is made
of a material having elasticity, when external force is applied
from the front to the pin part 10, the pin part 10 moves rearward,
and when the force applied from the front disappears, the pin part
10 returns to its original position.
The pin part 10 has an additional terminal part 30 formed at the
rear thereof, wherein the additional terminal part 30 is coupled to
a connecting part 31 thereof.
The counter contact terminal 40 is a contact terminal formed in a
magnetic connector of an opposite side.
When the magnetic connector is coupled, the counter contact
terminal 40 applies pressing force to the front contact point 11 of
the pin part 10 while contacting the front contact point 11 of the
pin part 10. In this case, the pin part 10 moves rearward, and the
rear contact point 12 contacts the additional terminal part 30.
Since the connecting part 31 of the additional terminal part 30 has
elastic force, when external force is applied to the additional
terminal part 30, the additional terminal part 30 moves rearward,
and when the external force disappears, the additional terminal
part 30 again moves forward.
Since the pin part 10 is made of a material having conductivity,
when the pin part 10 contacts the additional terminal part 30 and
the counter contact terminal 40 as shown in (b) of FIG. 3, the pin
part 10 is electrically connected to the additional terminal part
30 and the counter contact terminal 40.
Although the connecting part 31 of the additional terminal part is
formed of a metal having elasticity to allow the additional
terminal parts 30 of first and second exemplary embodiments to have
elasticity, other means may also be used in order to allow the
additional terminal part 30 to have the elasticity. For example, a
coil spring may be attached to a rear surface of the additional
terminal part 30 to allow the additional terminal part 30 to have
the elasticity. In addition to the above-mentioned means, various
means may be used.
In addition, although the spring 14 of a first exemplary embodiment
and the wing part 16 of a second exemplary embodiment are installed
in order to allow the pin part 10 to have elasticity and serve as
an elastic part (a part applying the elasticity to the pin part),
an elastic part by other methods may also be installed.
The meaning that the pin part 10 and the additional terminal part
30 have elastic force is that when external force is applied from
the front, the pin part 10 and the additional terminal part 30 move
rearward in proportion to the external force, and when the external
force disappears, the pin part 10 and the additional terminal part
30 again move forward.
The reason why the pin part 10 and the additional terminal part 30
have the elastic force is in order to allow the pin part 10 to
certainly contact the counter contact terminal 40 and the
additional terminal part 30 when the magnetic connector is
connected.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a magnetic connector having a
double contact point switch according to the present device.
The magnetic connector 50 has a magnet 53 formed on a surface
thereof, and magnetic attractive force acts between the magnet 53
and a magnet of a counter magnetic connector 70 to couple the two
magnetic connectors to each other. A position of the magnet of the
magnetic connector may be variously changed depending on a demand
in a design.
The magnetic connector 50 of a power supplying apparatus has a
power supplying cut-off circuit provided therein.
The power supplying cut-off circuit cuts off outputs to Vo+ and Vo-
when inputs P and S are not electrically connected to each other,
but allows the outputs to Vo+ and Vo- when the inputs P and S are
electrically connected to each other. Here, it is preferable that
the power supplying cut-off circuit allows the outputs to Vo+ and
Vo- when a predetermined time elapses after the inputs P and S are
not electrically connected to each other. Since the power supplying
cut-off circuit is the well-known technology, a detailed
description therefor will be omitted.
In the magnetic connector of FIG. 4, when a counter contact
terminal of the counter magnetic connector 70 presses the pin part
10 of the double contact point switch to electrically connect the
inputs P and S to each other, the outputs to the Vo+ and Vo- are
allowed. Here, the outputs to the Vo+ and Vo supply power to an
electronic apparatus through contact terminal 51 or 52 of the
magnetic connector.
Although the double contact point switch is installed in the
contact terminal 51 in an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the
double contact point switch may be installed in the contact
terminal 52 or the double contact point switches may be installed
in both of the contact terminals 51 and 52. In the case in which
the double contact point switches are installed in both of the
contact terminals 51 and 52, outputs from the two double contact
point switches may pass through an AND circuit or an OR circuit and
be then sent as inputs of the power supplying cut-off circuit.
In addition, in the case in which a transformer of the power
supplying apparatus is always operated, electric power may be
wasted. Therefore, the transformer may be operated only in the case
in which the magnetic connector of the power supplying apparatus
and a magnetic connector of the electronic apparatus are connected
to each other using the double contact point switch.
Although the number of power supplying terminals of the magnetic
connector is two (that is, positive (+) and negative (-) terminals)
in FIG. 4, a larger number of power supplying terminals may be
installed to allow power to be supplied even in the case in which
the magnetic connector 50 is rotated by 180 degrees.
FIG. 5 is illustrative views of contact terminals of the magnetic
connector.
Four contact terminals are formed in (a) of FIG. 5, and three
contact terminals are formed in (b) of FIG. 5.
Since the contact terminals are formed symmetrically to each other
in (a) and (b) of FIG. 5, even though the magnetic connector 50 is
rotated by 180 degrees in a state in which the counter magnetic
connector 70 leaves as it is and is then connected to the counter
magnetic connector 70, power may be supplied through the power
supplying terminals.
FIG. 6 is perspective views of the magnetic connector and a counter
magnetic connector. In more detail, (a) and (b) of FIG. 6 are
perspective views of the magnetic connector 50 having the contact
terminals of (a) of FIG. 5 and the counter magnetic connector 70.
(a) and (b) of FIG. 6 are perspective views viewed in opposite
directions.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic connector. In more
detail, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic connector
50 of FIG. 6. Although the double contact point switches are
installed in two contact terminals positioned at an outer side
among the four contact terminals in FIG. 7, the double contact
point switches may be installed in two contact terminals positioned
at the center or be installed in all of the four contact
terminals.
In FIG. 7, each of the double contact point switches includes the
pin part 10, the spring 14, the body part 20, and the additional
terminal part 30.
With the double contact point switch and the magnetic connector
having the same according to the present device, it is possible to
confirm whether or not a contact of a magnetic connector was made
without installing a separate signal terminal in the magnetic
connector.
* * * * *